Cribbing structure



Feh. 22, 1938. R. IRVlN 2,109,025

CRIBBING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. '7, 1936 Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE A 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a cribbing structure of the type embodying aframe work of assembled beams to be filled with earth, stone, rubble orthe like, for supporting and retaining em- 5 bankments of cuts, fillsand excavations, and for foundation walls, retaining walls, or analogouswork wherever applicable, of either a permanent or temporary nature.

1 Important objects and advantages of the inlU vention are to provide acribbing structure of the character described, which employs precastcribbing members constructed of concretive composition materialrendering same most durable and particularly adapated for use incribbing structures of a permanent nature, which embodies novel meansfor maintaining the associated cribbing members in their relativepositions, and which is not affected by any untoward weather conditions.

2 Further objects of the invention are to provide a construction of theclass stated, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, whichmay be readily erected or removed, which combines minimum Weight andmaximum strength, and which is comparatively economical in itsmanufacture, erection and maintenance.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction,

combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood thatchanges in the form, proportions and details of construction may beresorted to that come Within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a front view, partly in cross section,

of a cribbing structure constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a header beam.illustrating its connection with the stringer beams by the key blocks.

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of the key block and theconnecting block, respectively.

Referring in detail to the drawing i denotes a header beam and 2represents a stringer beam. The header and stringer beams areconstructed in various lengths to meet any requirements and conditionsfound in practice.

The beams I and 2 are substantially H-shaped in transverse crosssection, having their upper and lower faces deeply recessed to formlongitudinally disposed grooves, respectively indicated at 3 and 4,which are half-round and extend uniformly throughout the lengths of thebeams. The construction of the header beam l and of the stringer beam 2are preferably identical in construction, excepting that each end of thegooves 3 of the header beams is closed by an end wall 5, while the endsof the grooves 4 of the stringer beams are open.

Figure 1 illustrates a front view of cribbing work employing my improvedheader beams l and stringer beams 2, which are arranged alternately inparallel rows and in super-imposed relation to each other. The stringerbeams of each row are disposed horizontally in longitudinal alignmentwith their adjacent ends abutted against each other. The header beams ofeach row are disposed at right angles with respect to the position ofthe stringer beams, and the ends thereof overlap the abutting ends ofadjacent stringer beams. The assembly of the header and I stringer beamsis identical in its arrangement to the practice now in common use incribbing work.

An integrally formed, substantially T-shaped key block 6, comprising astringer cross-arm 1 and a header arm 8, is provided and employed for aslooking together the abutting ends of the stringer beams 2 and theoverlapping end of the header beam l. The arms I and 8 aresemi-cylindrical in transverse cross section, and extend at right anglesrelatively to each other. 1 One end of the fiat side of the header arm 8joins with the flat side of the stringer cross-arm 1, central of thelength of the latter, and extends to but not beyond the outer edge ofsaid cross-arm 1.

The contour of the key block arms I and 8 conforms to the contour of thegrooves 3 and 4 in respective header and stringer beams l and 2. In theassembly of the cribbing structure, the cross-arms 1 of the key block 6overlap the abutting ends of the stringer beams 2 and engage in thegrooves 4 in the latter. The arms 8 engage in the grooves 3 of theheader beams l, and the end walls 5 overlap and engage the connected endof said arm 8, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The engagement of theheader arms 8 by the end walls 5 in the manner stated, prevents thespreading movement of the stringer beams from their positions inconnection with the header beams I. The key blocks are preferablycemented in position in the grooves of the header and stringer beams, bya suitable bituminous asphaltic cement. Such mastic cement allows theslight movements attending the settling adjustments of theinterconnected parts of the structure without liability of fracturingsaid cement or said inter-connected parts.

If for any reason it is required to close an opening between twoadjacent rows of stringer beams, or between two adjacent rows of headerbeams, a filler beam of similar conformation may be employed. Suitableconnecting blocks 9, either cylindrical, as shown, or spherical incontour, are engaged and cemented in the grooves of adjacent beams,whereby the filler beam is held in position for material retaining orother purposes.

All parts of the cribbing structure, including the header and stringerbeams I and 2, and the associated key and connecting blocks 6 and 9, areconstructed and precast of concrete embodying any suitable concretivecomposition materials. Reenforcing rods H? are embedded in the beams andextend longitudinally in the latter to provide requisite strength and toallow reduction of their transverse cross sectional areas to a minimumfor the conservation of weight.

It will here be noted that, while the grooves 3 and 4 in the beams l and2, are herein illus trated and described as being half-round intransverse cross section, it is obvious that the configuration of thegrooves may be varied, and correspondingly shaped key blocks providedfor use in connection therewith. However, the contour of the groovesshould be such that the expansion of any matter in said grooves, due tofreezing or other causes, will be outward toward the open side of thegrooves and will not act to apply force or pressure against any pointsor parts of the wall of the grooves, whereby the liability of fracturingthe beams from such causes is entirely eliminated. The bottoms of thegrooves 3 and 4 are provided with a plurality of apertures II to permitthe drainage of water therefrom that might accumulate in any of thegrooves.

Under conditions when it is not feasible to use the key and connectingblocks 6 and 9 for locking the ends of the beams together in the mannerset forth, a concrete mass of low slump consistency may be successfullyemployed instead of said blocks.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, the construction and use of my improved cribbing will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, and while disclosing one embodiment of the invention, it isevident that the novel features thereof may be varied without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any advantages of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a cribbing structure, the combination of a pair of stringer beamshaving their adjacent ends abutted against each other, a header beamdisposed at right angles to said stringer beams and having an endthereof overlapping the abutting ends of said stringer beams, said beamsbeing constructed of reenforced concrete and being provided withlongitudinally extending grooves, said grooves having aperturesextending through the bottoms thereof, and a T-shaped key block engagedin respective grooves for locking the adjacent ends of said stringer andheader beams together.

2. In a cribbing structure including stringer and hanger beams providedwith longitudinally extending grooves, an integrally formed key blockconstructed of concrete and comprising a stringer cross-arm, and aheader arm disposed at right angles to said stringer cross-arm andhaving one end thereof joined with the center of the latter thetransverse contours of said stringer crossarm and of said header armrespectively corresponding to the transverse contours of the grooves ofthe stringer and header beams.

3. In a cribbing structure, the combination of a pair of stringer beamshaving their adjacent ends abutted against each other, a header beamdisposed at right angles to said stringer beams and having an endthereof overlapping the abutting ends of said stringer beams, said beamsbeing constructed of reenforced concrete and being provided withlongitudinally extending grooves, and a T-shaped key block engaged inrespective grooves for locking the adjacent ends of said stringer andheader beams together.

4. In a cribbing structure, the combination of a pair of stringer beamshaving their adjacent ends abutted against each other, a header beamdisposed at right angles tosaid stringer beams and having an end thereofoverlapping the abutting ends of said stringer beams, said beams beingconstructed of reenforced concrete and being provided withlongitudinally extending grooves, said grooves being substantiallyhalfround in transverse cross section, and a T-shaped key block engagedin respective grooves for locking the adjacent ends of said stringer andheader beams together.

RICHARD IRVIN.

